So just bought some Fatgripz

[Siegler]

http://www.fatgripz.com/index-1e.html



I'm trying to get my grip strength up for other compound exercises, and more importantly I really want thick forearms. I've been wanting to try a fat bar, but the gyms I go to don't have them. So I saw a guy at the gym with these fatgripz. I bought them ($40, a little expensive), and first workout with them was pretty awesome.

I used to do 70lb dumbbells for farmer walks, first time I got these I put them on some 25lb dumbbells and it hit my forearms harder.

[GimPy™]

never heard of these man. would you use this on you back workouts too?

[Siegler]

I'm trying to figure it out. Using these makes every exercise that much harder (which might be a good thing). I really don't think I could match my last back workout numbers using these (benching was pretty tough with these). I'm thinking maybe when you finish an exercise (like one arm dumbbell rows) you could do an extra set or 2 of less weight with these on to target your forearms.

[nuklear]

why not just work forearms on a specified day instead of burning them out on every other day?

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by nuklear

why not just work forearms on a specified day instead of burning them out on every other day?

Well, I always felt forearms could be trained almost every day of the week (not sure what the accepted view of this is currently). Also I'd rather work my forearms on an exercise that targets other parts of the body, so I can get better at that specific exercise and save time in the gym.

[nuklear]

that's why people generally have a forearm day though, so no other excercise suffers thus hurtin' their "gym time"

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by nuklear

that's why people generally have a forearm day though, so no other excercise suffers thus hurtin' their "gym time"

Well, I did say I feel it's more beneficial to work your forearms several times a week.

[Shaaaady]

Why do you think back numbers would be down using these?

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by Shaaaady

Why do you think back numbers would be down using these?

Well from what I saw from using them on a push day, I figure it would be even harder to do on a pull day. I feel your grip comes more into play on a pull day.

[Shaaaady]

I'm asking you, why do you think it would be harder, exercise science speaking?

[GimPy™]

not able to get a tight grip on the weight so it makes it harder on your wrist and forarms

[Siegler]

It would be harder to grab a bar that's thicker. The bigger the surface area, the more tension on the forearms. Right?

[Shaaaady]

It takes your biceps out of the equation, so you can't pull as much with your grip. Try doing open-handed cable curls, chest press, flys, shoulder press..it yields the same result.

[GimPy™]

i think your misunderstanding .. its to work your grip strength and your forearms.. open handed cable curls don't increase grip strength.

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by GimPy™

i think your misunderstanding .. its to work your grip strength and your forearms.. open handed cable curls don't increase grip strength.

I think he was just asking a general question to why using these on back day would yield lower results.

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by Shaaaady

It takes your biceps out of the equation, so you can't pull as much with your grip. Try doing open-handed cable curls, chest press, flys, shoulder press..it yields the same result.

Good to know. Kind of like people who try to do a lot of weight doing lateral raises, on the way up they'll turn their hand over and use more bicep.

[Shaaaady]

Originally Posted by GimPy™

i think your misunderstanding .. its to work your grip strength and your forearms.. open handed cable curls don't increase grip strength.

I know what they are being used for. I'm not misunderstanding. I was just asking specifically on back day, what would make the fatter grip so much more challenging.

Analyzing these, it seems to me that they would be mostly valuable for arm exercises, and not so much for other body parts. Besides from elbow extension and flexion, most of the other movements would be taking out biceps and not necessarily increasing forearm strength. I can think of a few shoulder exercises that would be beneficial, too.

I like the concept, for sure, but without using them and knowing for sure, my thought would be to only use them on arm/shoulder day and specified exercises. Let us know what you think!

[Shaaaady]

Originally Posted by Siegler

Good to know. Kind of like people who try to do a lot of weight doing lateral raises, on the way up they'll turn their hand over and use more bicep.

Exactly, perfect analogy. Also why close grip/prone grip pull-ups are much easier than wide/supine grip pull-ups.

And Gimpy, a lot of your grip strength comes from your foreams, meaning that doing some of the exercises a listed before open handed would most certainly increase grip strength. Try doing flies open handed and youll see much more forearm activation solely based on the flexion your wrist needs to make to keep the dumbbell/cable/machine from sliding off your hands.

[GimPy™]

ah shit sorry shady. it wasn't meant to be offensive i just misunderstood. i was just always taught gripping the weight as hard as you can on every exercise will work your forearms the best. and these things making it harder to get a good grip on something would strengthen your hands wrists and forearms just because you have to grip that much harder and always be focusing on that.

[GimPy™]

Originally Posted by Shaaaady

youll see much more forearm activation solely based on the flexion your wrist needs to make to keep the dumbbell/cable/machine from sliding off your hands.

didnt think of it like that

[bigd]

Using these seems like it would work my grip more, but at the expense of the primary exercise i'm doing such as deadlifts, lateral & front raises, rows, etc...

when i needed more grip strength i just did a quick 12-15 sets of various forearm exercises twice a week. within 3 weeks my grip strength went up tremendously.

[GimPy™]

indeed. but think of if you trained yourself to get to the same weight while using these. your lifts would go up like crazy. dragonball z style.


but maybe not haha

[Siegler]

Originally Posted by Shaaaady

Analyzing these, it seems to me that they would be mostly valuable for arm exercises, and not so much for other body parts. Besides from elbow extension and flexion, most of the other movements would be taking out biceps and not necessarily increasing forearm strength. I can think of a few shoulder exercises that would be beneficial, too.

I like the concept, for sure, but without using them and knowing for sure, my thought would be to only use them on arm/shoulder day and specified exercises. Let us know what you think!

Yeah, I pretty much think this too, I feel it hinders other primary muscles when doing compound lifts. So what shoulder exercises could benefit from these?

[GimPy™]

upward rows...for me anyways cause i dont use tons of weight..arny press??

[GimPy™]